[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6250174,"mediaKeyId","3204286-107aa77ff4e8289ab59f354d25f029d4","parentId",3204286,"title","Committee approves streetlight, creek repairs, IT and Greenway pavilion purchases; property sale advanced to council","audioSeconds",2436,"startMs",6991000,"endMs",9427000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204286-107aa77ff4e8289ab59f354d25f029d4&start=6991&end=9427","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204286-107aa77ff4e8289ab59f354d25f029d4/thumbnail_6991000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250174/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Committee-approves-streetlight-creek-repairs-IT-and-Greenway-pavilion-purchases-property-sale-advanced-to-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250174-10f81fd8647dfd8601243c2a77cf3cd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170723&Signature=Jmh7Ywf8i8LcX4HnRkO7T3IlGOgKZutrMt5PJ8z2hLZjyFWE0HAZ5eFOm1I3lJMlrY4IsMxtrjqO9LoQ09Zj~bHyVjjkNxyT7jVaBYpLoBmJT98i-4l2YKx2p65df41zArpRCM31FH6U2QvFbHNiegcU9d38BlYKxhNDg926C6UcmXn20Jc4FuFfOphKR2SFgqnZqGlqjb~ndqb4L3qD1t5-e9FUtkYLc8b1pX0shyKrW~cx8fT2h~yEHhS2b1K~TFGVNZrVtvt17wAqRfvo9VHJpKVrx30fL6gnJmNdTQ3X5uSWU0hp-P-9iFpRbdcpzOZPxTrJ3x~1fIPygcRnKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Homewood, AL","date","2025-05-06T16:37:31Z","article","The Homewood City Finance Committee on May 5 approved several operational and capital items: a new streetlight near 1455 Overlook Road to improve pedestrian safety, emergency creek wall footing repairs, an IT engineering contract to rework core networking and cybersecurity, and contracts to purchase and site a restroom/pavilion at the Greenway/Soccer Park. The committee also approved a Laserfiche support agreement and declared a small community‑center parcel surplus and authorized a conditional sale to be finalized at the council level.

Streetlight at Overlook Road: Residents Claire and Merrill (identified in public comment) asked the committee for a light near 1455 Overlook to improve safety for walkers and neighbors. Councilor Guatney moved to approve the new pole and light; Councilor Brandt seconded. The committee approved the request; committee members discussed a need for a temporary mirror solution for sight lines until landscaping and a new fence were completed.

Creek wall footing repairs: Public works reported emergency repairs after a creek wall failure behind 711 Broadway. The committee approved a contract with Wallcraft for immediate footing repairs and authorized transferring funds from carry‑over balances to an emergency line item; staff said the contractor began work immediately to avoid additional erosion and utility exposure.

IT and Laserfiche support: The committee authorized the city manager to execute a contract with White Oak Solutions for network engineering and Fortinet firewall configuration to add redundancy and segmentation for citywide systems. IT Director Brandon Sims said the contract for engineering and equipment configuration totals $24,000, with up to $5,000 authorized for change orders; the committee approved the item. The committee also authorized a Laserfiche (document management) support agreement so the city can receive vendor support already provided to neighboring jurisdictions.

Greenway restroom and pavilion: The committee approved a purchase from Romtek for a prefabricated restroom/pavilion and authorized Scholl Engineering for site design. The building price cited in the presentation was $191,771 and will be installed on existing Greenway/Soccer Park property; a portion of bond funds was identified as the likely funding source. Staff said the design will include ADA access, storage for park equipment and room for small community gatherings.

Property along community center (1832/24 Court South): Committee members reviewed a boundary survey showing a narrow sliver of privately occupied land within a city parcel adjacent to the community center. The committee approved declaring the sliver surplus and authorizing sale to the adjoining owner pending confirmation of the assessed valuation and adding the city’s survey/title costs to the price. That motion passed at committee and will move to full council for final approval.

Ending: Most items were approved unanimously with staff directions for follow‑up procurement and design steps; the Creekside incentives and large development financing items were carried to later meetings for additional public review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Homewood Finance Committee May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Finance Committee approved multiple operational and capital measures May 5, including a streetlight near 1455 Overlook, emergency creek wall repairs, IT and document‑management support contracts, purchase and design of a Greenway restroom/pavilion, and advanced a conditional property sale to the City Council.","taxTitle","Homewood City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",65544,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250184,"Developers pitch Sanford Horizons civic-infrastructure plan; councilists raise traffic, schools and scale concerns",4483,437000,4920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204286-107aa77ff4e8289ab59f354d25f029d4&start=437&end=4920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204286-107aa77ff4e8289ab59f354d25f029d4/thumbnail_437000.jpg","/articles/6250184/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Developers-pitch-Sanford-Horizons-civic-infrastructure-plan-councilists-raise-traffic-schools-and-scale-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250184-f651125005d06d234553e99e6373ac00/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170723&Signature=khQUjRN4O1jQyDNqUeZyVkcGO3VqPCHR1z8Ynm~pSR88yNzs26MgFhUAFdaQiOxn2Dh0-0-0m9y0Pr~h7g9y-RA9GbNmd~wths6U6niIxwGV6Pc0pBlNgAu7cKgtcyHlJozrZkSHGNh~mbMP6VxUJnY3FnS4kzDtTTGvAAMDpiaXHo6T5BP294yxVgWwMl3cvIB7elV9JHJq1wfECAeRXhzw5hMgMz4rahU~DescunLdvHguoj46UdTLUVMLv-wDGfl2GqnX3TsIKDf9~xqhEtKJ9r7lyTyrjWJToW3iw4fUrmT0pHbo~xnSHClnAdmye50SE7LqN0ubn4No9DNy~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Landmark Development and representatives of Sanford University presented a multi‑phase plan called “Sanford Horizons” and asked Homewood officials on May 5 to consider a private‑funded civic infrastructure program that would fund horizontal infrastructure for a proposed Creekside East/West development.

The proposal, presented by Bob Dunn of Landmark Development and members of the Sanford team including Dr. Colin Coyne, framed the plan as a long‑range, mixed‑use master plan tied to a university “civic anchor.” Dunn said the private team would build and finance roughly “about a hundred and $4,000,000” in civic infrastructure and asked the city to consider a value‑capture arrangement that would recover a portion of new lodging, sales and property tax revenues over time.

Why it matters: developers argued the plan would generate new tax base and private investment, deliver recreational and pedestrian infrastructure and strengthen Sanford University’s competitiveness. Council members and residents said the proposal is large in scale, raises questions about traffic, student housing and school enrollment, and needs clearer commitments on sports field replacement, bridge and stormwater details.

Dunn told the Finance Committee the development team’s economic model forecasts “as high as $400,000,000 or more over the planning horizon” in new tax revenues to the City of Homewood and said the private team expects “nearly a billion dollars” of private investment across the master plan. He described a proposed financing split in which private value capture would cover an estimated mid‑20% share of infrastructure costs and the private developer would assume construction risk.

Councilors asked for clarity on several points Dunn raised in the presentation. Councilor Guatney, who led the discussion after Councilor Smith recused himself, asked whether the presented value‑capture percentages were firm; Dunn replied the numbers are mid‑range estimates that the team expected to refine. Council members repeatedly pressed the developers on student housing design and control, whether Creekside East recreational fields would be relocated to city sites, and the hotel height shown in early renderings.

Several council members and residents said community messaging and timing have eroded trust. Councilor Brandt said moving the university’s track and soccer complex onto city park property “is not a feasible option” and that the city should not be asked to sacrifice school capacity or neighborhood quality of life. Councilor Andrews said many constituents oppose the hotel height and the scale of development near the high school; Councilor Sims and others noted the proposal has “struck a nerve” with residents.

Developers and university representatives responded that community engagement has been extensive, that a Development Advisory Group (DAG) of about 18 local stakeholders has shaped alternatives, and that the team has been studying options to deliver community benefits — for example, locating sports and recreation where they are least disruptive and building a pedestrian bridge over Lakeshore Drive. Dunn emphasized the team’s intent to record covenants governing privately developed housing on university‑owned land and said Sanford would retain land ownership and use ground leases for vertical development.

Committee actions and next steps: the Finance Committee did not vote to approve incentives or value‑capture terms. Members agreed to carry the item and hold further public discussion: a Planning & Development meeting was scheduled for May 19 and the full City Council will consider items on June 9. The city attorney and developers agreed to clarify whether proposed changes to Creekside East require the development plan to return to the Planning Commission. Councilors asked staff to bring firmer cost and cap numbers for any incentive or development agreement before the council considers approvals.

Ending: Developers left the meeting with a calendar of follow‑up meetings and repeated invitations for public comment; council members said they will expect more concrete figures, formal covenants for university‑affiliated housing, traffic and stormwater analyses, and clearer written alternatives for sports and recreation before any financial or zoning approvals.

","Landmark Development and Sanford University asked Homewood officials to consider a private‑funded civic infrastructure program to enable a multi‑phase Creekside East/West mixed‑use project.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250179,"Finance committee approves transfer to cover prior audit invoice and OKs new deputy finance position",2249,6315000,8564000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204286-107aa77ff4e8289ab59f354d25f029d4&start=6315&end=8564","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204286-107aa77ff4e8289ab59f354d25f029d4/thumbnail_6315000.jpg","/articles/6250179/Homewood-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Finance-committee-approves-transfer-to-cover-prior-audit-invoice-and-OKs-new-deputy-finance-position","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250179-709019e1aeb8bc88299e08d612b01155/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170723&Signature=Prp~73-yNKOYsGNrlZ6tiW0ZvnBQh01lrdRket3FqXNbqq0Mq6QgGvX1od9Wui7woba2PJaGRnN7i6EcdWYJ14efUjaBAZ~G-eDI9IekJsKX80MHQyBa0eLs~ELfJochhIBuY3Bruud2sLOmV-uMS3n66DmYtI59fPBSD-prchW3-nYLKbiFokeie3-q9PgyHKWi6RdzsBRFk7rjYYH2khqKlCRFhJ-hg-Kt258oBjuDJkB4tO1RlJVuSjNx9DWG7eBx4ZE0vbmKVZIyrISU89cUXHFJXq09DBytiTPLANWNUY3MU1iDms6aQdAmgiqIE1xY2wzRBhgf3b~io19GIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance Committee on May 5 approved a transfer to cover an outstanding auditor invoice tied to the City’s 2023 financial statement work and moved to create a deputy finance director/chief accountant position after a workload analysis showed sustained need.

Finance Director Glenn (first name provided in meeting) told the committee that the 2023 audit required additional on‑site testing and expedited work after the city’s prior‑year financial irregularity, and that the auditors’ invoice for the 2023 audit was outstanding. City Manager Adams explained the city needed a budget transfer so the invoice could be paid; committee members approved the transfer in a 5–0 vote.

Why it matters: the city’s finance team said the higher invoice total resulted from extra audit work tied to prior internal issues and an expedited schedule. Committee members pressed staff for clearer reconciliation of audit‑year charges, asked for the fiscal‑policy “tests” the council adopted to be run against current balances, and requested more frequent (quarterly) financial updates going forward.

In a separate vote the committee approved creating a new, permanent finance position: a grade‑32 deputy finance director / chief accountant for the Jefferson County personnel board. City Manager Adams said the classification and workload analysis justify the hire; members approved the position 5–0. The manager and finance director said the new post would reduce reliance on external temporary accounting help and better support year‑end close work and future budget preparation.

Officials also discussed several other audit‑related accounts. Finance staff said the budget contains multiple line items for auditing, contractual accounting services and outside forensic work; they told the committee they will return with a plan to reclassify and right‑size accounts so annual and prior‑year audit costs are reported in the correct lines.

Ending: Committee members asked staff for a timeline to supply the financial “tests” required by council fiscal policy after year‑close and asked that future midyear reviews include those results. Staff said they will return with reclassification proposals and the fiscal tests at a later meeting.","Committee approved a transfer to cover an outstanding audit invoice related to the 2023 audit and authorized creation of a deputy finance director/chief accountant position after a workload study; Councilors pressed staff for clearer budget testing and quarterly reporting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves streetlight, creek repairs, IT and Greenway pavilion purchases; property sale advanced to council

Developers pitch Sanford Horizons civic-infrastructure plan; councilists raise traffic, schools and scale concerns

Finance committee approves transfer to cover prior audit invoice and OKs new deputy finance position